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A question to everyone - Where do you have your Paschal foods blessed? In the Church nave? In the Church hall? outside? Which is most proper?

I have been told that Paschal Foods are not to be blessed in the Church itself as we ought not to bring meatflesh into the Church. Have I been taught correctly? Can anyone point me to a source on these matters?

Father Michael

Father, bless.

In all the Eastern Orthodox parishes to which I have belonged (including my present one), the blessing of Paschal foods takes place in the parish hall, not the church (not even the narthex of the church), for the very reason you cited.

Before I was Orthodox, I belonged to a Byzantine-Ruthenian Rite Catholic church which had no parish hall. Here, the blessing took place within the nave, but the smell of kielbasa during Paschal Matins overpowered the odor of incense!

In Polish Roman Catholic parishes, the "Swieconka" (Paschal food) is blessed in the parish hall or in private homes or in the parish school.

I hope this helps.

OrthodoxEast

CHRISTOS VOSKRES!

Good morning Fr. Michael!

I guess it depends on what the weather is like and how many people you have.

My Baba's Roman Catholic parish always blessed the baskets on Saturday afternoon in the church. There used to be over 100 baskets at the 3 different blessings.

In Cleveland this past Paska, my uncle's Roman parish blessed over 200 baskets at one time but again in the church.

My own Greek Catholic parish blesses baskets on Saturday afternoon after St. Basil's Liturgy but does it in the Hall. They also bless baskets following Matins and Liturgy on Paska morning; either inside or outside depending on the weather.

St. John's Cathedral in Parma blesses baskets on Saturday night after Matins & Liturgy. They have a GORGEOUS ikon of the Resurrection and all the baskets are placed in front of the ikon and blessed. Oh, this is inside the church. They also bless again on Paska morning following Divine Liturgy, once again, in the Church.

My family's Greek Catholic parish outside of Pittsburgh blessed baskets after Saturday night Matins in the church hall but then again in the Church following Divine Liturgy on Paska morning. All the baskets were lined up in front of the "ikonstas" and blessed there.

The Ukrainian Catholic churches here where I live bless their baskets outside unless the weather is bad, then they use the Hall or the church (we have 2 parishes, one with hall one without)

St. Nicholas OCA Cathedral in Washington,DC blesses baskets in the church hall, several times, before Matins begin.

Confused yet??

If you're doing Saturday night Matins & Liturgy, I'd do it inside, either the Church or the Hall. Go with which ever space is larger and has more room.

If you're going to do them again on Paska morning, do it outside.

Hope this helps...

I have a quarter if you need it...

A Blessed Paska to you!

mark

ps

guess I should mention that at my parish, we arrange the tables in shape of 3-bar cross and put all the baskets there. We light the candles and then turn off all the lights and it's a VERY impressive sight...something to consider if you're doing this on Saturday night.

I always thought the Paschal food (pasok) blessings were to be done outside if possible.

Well we do it in the Hall next to the Church (and believe me, after the service today...I am looking forward to getting some GOOD FOOD at about 4am...last year we had a massive swan made from mirangue, plus wonderful beluga cavier...hmmmm)

Anton

Interesting thread. Greeks don't do the "basket thing". Just red eggs from the hand of the priest.

But, I would think that having the baskets in the parish hall is nice, as we have it in the Ruthenian parish where I worship.

However, I don't see a big problem with having the baskets inside the Temple itself. Since the fast is an integral part of the lenten preparation, and we refer to fasting a bazillion times in the liturgy, it would make sense to have the abstained-from foods actually present in the Church during the declaration of the Lord's Resurrection. And to bless them right there in the Temple as we end the preparation, would seem to be a very viable option. (But, of course, should you choose to end the fast outside the Temple, might I suggest a local Greek restaurant or diner? Hey, if you carry your basket and have a candle or two, perhaps there'll be a discount!!)

Blessings to all the Basket-Bearing Slavs!!

Christ is Risen!!!